Gallo Pinto: The Typical Costa Rican Breakfast

(Introduction by Liz) Today we’re very pleased to introduce the newest member of the PocketCultures team, Nuria Villalobos from Costa Rica. Read her first post for PocketCultures here below.

Costa Rica is synonym of peace, happiness, nature and great food. The most typical dish for breakfast is called “Gallo Pinto”, literally translated ‘Spotted Rooster’. Its name doesn’t have anything to do with its ingredients though since they are basically white rice and black beans. Yes, you heard right: rice and beans for breakfast!

This national dish can be made in different ways but it is usually prepared with onions, red peppers, cilantro and the not-to-be-missed ingredient: Lizano Sauce. This 100% Costa Rican sauce was produced by the company Lizano in 1920 and although its recipe is secret, it is known to contain onion, carrot, cauliflower and cucumber. This sauce is neither sweet nor sour and it has a strong smell to spices. It is very tasty and therefore used in many Costa Rican dishes.

The gallo pinto has its origins in the Caribbean islands where the rice and beans combination was spread. This dish came along with the arrival of the African American workers coming from Jamaica to the province of Limón, Costa Rica. Its current name was not giving to it until workers from the Central Valley went to Limón to help build the railroad and therefore tasted this food. As a result, in the 1930’s the gallo pinto became popular in the rest of the country.

Although in different versions, this dish is also eaten in Nicaragua and other countries such as Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. In Costa Rica, the gallo pinto, known as rice and beans in Limón and prepared with coconut oil, can be accompanied with eggs, cheese, corn tortillas, sour cream and fried ripe plantains.

Make sure you get a taste of Costa Rica in your next visit by trying the famous gallo pinto!

About the author

Nuria Villalobos
My name is Nuria Villalobos and I'm Costa Rican. I am a current professor of English as a Foreign Language at Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, and a former ISEP (International Student Exchange Program) student in the United States. I speak Portuguese and I am currently studying the Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language. I'm passionate about languages, cultures, photography and meeting people from different places.Other 15 posts by Nuria

Hi there! We Costa Ricans eat lunch at around noon. Breakfast varies because it depends on when people start working. I would say most people have breakfast between 6 and 7, if they start working at 8. In San José it’s probably like that. In the countryside people wake up earlier, so the time for breakfast would change. Dinner is around 7 p.m.

I met and fell in love with a beautiful Tica here in Philly. Rice and beans for breakfast was a little odd at first, but it does start a day off with a full stomach. Now, if I can get her to eat pancakes, lol. Maravillosa people, truly. Wish there were more like them here.

Hi Clara, breakfast can start as early as 5 ish for some people, if they start working at 6 am or so. High school students, for instance, start classes at 7 am, so they need to have breakfast at about 6 am It all depends when people start working or studying

Hi! I’m American but have been to CR many times and fell in LOVE with beans/rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Something about the way they combine it into Gallo Pinto made me never tire of it. And, I could vary things by changing the amount of Salsa Lizano each time I want to make Gallo Pinto for my friends here, and I want to have Salsa Lizano along side. I’m willing to pay big bucks to get some of it here in NZ. Ideas? Gracias, Audrey

Hi,
I own a “Caribbean style” bed and breakfast in Pittsburgh and am currently in Costa Rica. I’ve had various rice and beans combinations here, but had the best recently at El Sueno in Monteverde. One of the breakfast options was for Gallo Pinto and it was the best rice and beans I’ve had down here. A unique flavoring in it and I assume they used lizano sauce. I will look for it before leaving. Thanx.

Hi! I’m glad you liked the “gallo pinto” in Monteverde! Yes, for sure it had Lizano sauce, we can’t eat gallo pinto without it! jijiji :p If I am ever in Pittsburgh, I will go to your bed & breakfast! Thanks for your comment!

Hi Shalie,
Even if “gallo pinto” is the most typical dish for breakfast in Costa Rica, not everybody eats it every day. We also eat lots of tropical fruits such as papaya, pineapple, banana, melon, and many others. Cereal, coffee and toasts are common, too.

Hi there,
Food definitely plays an important role in holidays and traditions, everywhere. Do you need to write about Costa Rica? Because of course this varies depending on the country and culture. In Costa Rica, we eat special food like “tamales” for Christmas and “empanadas de chiverre” for Holy Week.